Teach your old food new tricks

By now, you're probably completely sick of your Thanksgiving leftovers, if there are any left. Yeah, I felt the same way, so I came up with some new ways to serve them. Risotto became risotto cakes by adding an egg and forming into cakes, then dipping them in flour and sauteing in a pan. Some other ideas I tried out this weekend. . .

Squash and Sweet Potato Strata:

Saute 1 cup bread in olive oil and garlic. Place in baking dish, add green onions, 1 1/2 cups grated cheese, mix 6 eggs and 1 cup milk with leftover sweet potato and or squash. You can add other leftover vegetables too, if you like. Bake and serve.

Potato Pancakes:
Leftover mashed potato
1/2 cup green onions
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup milk
1 cup grated hard Italian cheese
2 eggs
salt and pepper

For into small pancakes saute in olive oil until browned and firm. About 2-3 minutes on each side.

Turkey Pannini:

8 slices sourdough bread
leftover turkey
leftover stuffing
Brie
leftover whole cranberry sauce or cranberry chutney
fresh sage

Place brie on half the bread. Top with turkey, stuffing, and sage. Spread other half of bread with cranberry sauce. Cook in Pannini maker or frying pan with olive oil until golden brown and cheese is melted. Cut in half and serve.

OK, these aren't low-fat ideas but they are a really great use of your leftovers. I really hate to waste food. Be sure to go for a long run after you eat.

That's what I did this morning after eating this for brunch. My sister and I went for a 3.6 mile run. It's so hard not gaining weight during the holiday season. It's only just begun.

I did say I was going to get all the bad food out of the house. I succeeded without throwing it away. Now I've gotta be good, at least till the weekend when I have the first of many Christmas parties. Oh what fun it is. . .